About the College

Diverse and Interdisciplinary Programming

Emergency preparedness, homeland security and cybersecurity are dynamic and diverse fields. Like security threats themselves, the work required to protect the nation is constantly changing and it cuts across numerous disciplines. The academic programs at CEHC will draw from several disciplines – including public administration, criminal justice, digital forensics, atmospheric science, public health, political science, computer science, informatics, and others – in order to fully equip students with the necessary and varied skills these fields require.

Experiential Learning

Classroom work will be supplemented by experiential learning opportunities in all of our programs, where through internships and training, authentic simulations, work with real-world clients, and research in contemporary and highly relevant topics, students will further their classroom learning in an applied environment. This facet of the curriculum allows students to put theory learned in the classroom to practice in the field, and begin cultivating a network of colleagues for their future career. University centers like the Center for Public Health Preparedness and the National Center for Security and Preparedness, as well as many external public and private agencies, help to provide research and training opportunities for students, academics, and professionals.

Research

The University at Albany is classified as a “Research University – Very High Research Activity” by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. CEHC strives to produce innovative, highly visible, and externally funded research – research that is conducted not just by CEHC faculty but through faculty-student collaborations and cross-disciplinary research groups. CEHC’s annual planning conference, “Setting the Agenda in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity” ensures that the College’s research is relevant to CEHC’s public, private, and nonprofit partners.

Training

At the University at Albany, CEHC students undertake a significant amount of training in the areas of homeland security and emergency preparedness. Our training program is comprised of four tiers: foundational training, professional development, community engagement, and concentration-specific training. CEHC’s National Center for Security and Preparedness supports the nation’s efforts to be secure from acts of terrorism and to be prepared to respond to disasters and other incidents of high consequence. The NCSP is also the program lead for the New York State Preparedness Training Center located in Oriskany, NY, and facilitates many of the available training opportunities. Students are exposed to the national and international facets of EHC through online training delivered by federal organizations such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDC). Lastly, since 2002, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has funded the School of Public Health’s Center for Public Health Preparedness, which provides highly relevant emergency preparedness training, resources, and assistance to public health professionals and their community response partners across New York State and the nation. Similarly, the School of Public Health’s Center for Public Health Continuing Education is nationally known for its distance learning training.

Partnerships

The challenges that these fields are working to address are complex and multi-faceted. They impact all levels of society and involve many individuals, organizations and agencies in the response efforts. That’s why CEHC works to generate and sustain strong partnerships with a wide array of organizations – including collaborating with other UAlbany schools and colleges; external academic institutions; and public, private and non-profit agencies – who are already making an impact in these fields.

The college leverages these partnerships through a “hub and spoke” model (illustrated below), through which the College serves as the hub, anchoring and supporting collaboration between the various spokes, which include academic units, state agencies, and private and non-profit organizations that are working in these areas.These partnerships allow the college to draw from the expertise of a range of disciplines; create relevant academic programming; set a research agenda informed by input from the state and other public, private and non-profit organizations; and to minimize duplication by integrating existing academic and training offerings into the college’s programs.

CEHC is always interested in expanding its partnerships to include other academic institutions with programs in emergency preparedness, homeland security and cybersecurity, as well as agencies, companies and organizations working in these areas. To discuss potential collaborations, please contact the College at CEHC@albany.edu.